Collapsible manipulating handle for floor treating machine



Aug. 31, 1965 E. A. ANDERSON 3,203,707

COLLAPSIBLE MANIPULATING HANDLE FOR FLOOR TREATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1964 INVENTOR. A m

4 if/vflyff Aug. 31, 1965 E. A. ANDERSON GOLLAPSIBLE MANIPULATING HANDLE FOR FLOOR TREATING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

A; Arron 5X United States Patent QOLLAPSIBLE MANEPULATING HANDLE FQR FLOOR TREATENG MACHINE Erik Arne Anderson, Hagersten, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, 21 corporation of Sweden Filed Apr. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 360,538 L'laims priority, application Sweden, Apr. 19, 1063, 4,358/ 63 6 Claims. (Cl. 280-4737) This invention relates to electrical floor treating machines or appliances, such as, floor waxers or vacuum cleaners, that include a housing movable over the floor or other surface being treated while being manipulated or guided by an elongated handle structure extending from the housing.

Existing machines or appliances of the described character usually have a handle structure constituted by a single elongated tube connected, at one end, with a yoke pivotally attached to the housing of the machine and provided, at its other or upper end, with an operating handle. The electric cord or cable for supplying current to the motor of the machine located within the housing usually extends through the single tube of the handle structure, and a switch for controlling the operation of the motor is normally located in the operating handle. In some of the existing machines or appliances, the single elongated tube of the handle structure is divided, approximately at its center, into two portions which are either telescopically joined to each other or provided with a pivotal connection so that the overall length of the handle structure can be substantially reduced for convenience in storing the machine or appliance.

It is an object of this invention to provide floor treating machines with an improved handle structure which can be collapsed from an extended operative position to a folded position for convenient storage of the machine, and which further forms a carrying handle by which the machine can be conveniently transported to a position of use.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the handle structure for an electrically operated floor treating machine having a housing movable over a floor surface comprises two rod-like elements pivotally connected, at one end, to opposite sides of the machine housing and having an operating handle secured to their other ends for use in manipulating the machine during its operation, each of the rod-like elements having first and second elongated portions of approximately equal length extending from the housing and from the operating handle, respectively, and joint means pivotally connecting the ends of the portions of each element which are remote from the housing and operating handle, respectively, so that the second or outer portions of the two rod-like elements can swing, as a unit, about a lateral axis relative to the first or inner portions between an extended position and a folded position, such joint means including a tubular member coaxial with the lateral axis of swinging and extending between the two rod-like elements to form a carrying handle for the machine.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, the pivotally connected ends of the elongated portions of the rod-like elements have end pieces thereon which are in side-by-side arrangement at the ends of the tubular member constituting a carrying handle. The laterally outer end pieces are axially fixed relative to the carrying handle, while the laterally inner end pieces are axially movable along the end portions of the carrying handle and are urged, preferably by spring means within the tubular carrying handle, against the adjacent outer end pieces. The confronting surfaces of the side-by-side end pieces are formed with similarly shaped recesses and projections engageable with each other for retaining the second or outer elongated portions of the rod-like elements in their extended or operative position.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor treating machine having a handle structure embodying this invention and which is shown in its extended or operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the floor treating machine, but shown with its handle structure in its collapsed or folded position for convenient carrying or transporting of the machine;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the floor treating machine, but with its handle shown in its collapsed and downwardly folded position for convenient storage in a space of relatively small height;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the operating handle portion of the handle structure embodying this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view, partly in elevation and partly broken away and in section, of the carrying handle and joint assembly included in the handle structure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI on FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail sectional view taken along the line VII-VII on FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section, of the housing of the floor treating machine and of the connection thereto of the handle structure embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, it will be seen that the handle structure 10 embodying this invention is there shown applied to a floor waxer 11, but it is to be understood that such handle structure may be applied to other electrically operated floor treating machines or appliances, such as, vacuum cleaners and the like. The illustrated floor waxer 11 has a housing or casing 12 containing an electric motor (not shown) for driving rotatable brushes 13 (FIG. 2) projecting downward beneath a hood 14 at the bottom of housing 12.

The handle structure 10 in accordance with this invention generally comprises two rod-like elements and 15b having laterally directed cylindrical mounting sockets 16a and 16b, respectively, at one end, which are pivotally mounted on lugs or trunnions 17 projecting from opposite sides of housing 12. The rod-like elements 15a and 15b converge in the direction toward the ends thereof remote from mounting sockets 16a and 16b, and such remote ends are secured in an operating handle 18 for use in manipulating or guiding the floor treating machine or waxer during its operation. As shown particularly on FIG. 4, the operating handle 18 may be in the form of a hollow tubular member having seats 19a and 1% formed therein to receive the ends of elements 15a and 15b, and apertured partitions 20 within the tubular operating handle receiving an axial bolt 21 passing through diametrical openings formed in the ends of elements 15a and 15b for securing the latter within the seats 19a and 19b.

In accordance with this invention, each of the rod-like elements 15a and 15b is divided into a first or inner elongated tubular portion 22 and a second or outer elongated tubular portion 23 of approximately equal length and extending from the housing 12 and from the operating handle 13, respectively. Further, a joint assembly generally identified by the reference numeral 24 is provided for pivotally connecting the ends of the tubular portions 22 and 23 which are remote from the housing 12 and operating handle 18, respectively. Thus, the outer portions 23 of rod-like elements a and 15b can swing, as a unit, about a lateral axis relative to the inner portions 22 for movement between an extended or operative position, as shown on FIG. 1, and a collapsed or folded position, as shown on FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown on FIG. 5, the pivotally connected ends of elongated tubular portions 23 have end pieces 25 secured therein. Such end pieces 25 are disposed laterally inside of end pieces 26a and 26b that are secured in the adjacent ends of the inner tubular portions 22 of elements 15a and 15b, respectively. The end pieces 25 have inwardly opening cylindrical cavities 27 that slidably receive the ends of a tubular member 28 constituting a carrying handle. The tubular member 28 has a centrally apertured partition or wall 29 through which a spacer bolt 30 extends axially. The end portions of spacer bolt 30 project through bores formed in end pieces 25 in alignment with the cylindrical cavities 27 of the latter, and the ends of spacer bolt 30 abut against end pieces 26a and 26b for determining the distance between the latter. The end pieces 26a and 26b are secured to spacer bolt 30 by means of screws 31 extending through the end pieces 26a and 26b and into tapped axial bores 32 opening at the ends of the spacer bolt. Helical compression springs 33 extend around spacer bolt 30 within tubular member 28 and abut, at their opposite ends, against the central partition or wall 29 of member 28 and against end pieces 25 for yieldably urging the latter outwardly against the adjacent end pieces 26a and 2612.

As particularly shown on the right hand portion of FIG. 5, the confronting surfaces of the end pieces 25 and of the adjacent end pieces 26a and 26b are formed with similarly shaped projections 34 and recesses 35 engageable with each other when the tubular portions 23 of the handle structure are in their extended or operative position relative to the tubular portions 22, as shown on FIG. 1. Thus, the engaged projections 34 and recesses 35 serve to retain the handle structure in its operative condition, that is, with its tubular portions 23 having their axes parallel to, and offset laterally inward with respect to the axes of the inner tubular portions 22.

Since the end pieces 25 of tubular portions 23 are slidable axially on the ends of tubular member 28, end pieces 25 can be displaced inwardly toward each other against the action of the springs 33 in order to release the projections 34 from the recesses 35 and thereby permit swinging of the tubular portions 23 from their operative or extended position relative to tubular portions 22. As shown on the drawing, the projections 34 and recesses 35 preferably have inclined or oblique end surfaces so that, when a substantial force is applied to tubular portions 23 tending to swing the latter from their operative or extended position with respect to tubular portions 22, such substantial force causes camming of the projections 34 on the end surfaces of the related recesses 35 to displace the end pieces 25 laterally inward toward each other, 'and thereby to effect release of projections 34 from recesses 35.

As shown on FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, an electric cord 36 for supplying current to the motor of the floor waxer extends through tubular portion 22 of rod-like element 15b and enters housing 12 through the related trunnion 17 which is preferably hollow. Since the end piece 26b is disposed laterally outside the adjacent end piece 25, as shown on FIG. 5, such end piece 26b has a readily accessible end surface at which the cable 36 can exit for connection to a wall receptacle. As shown particularly on FIG. 5, end piece 26!) preferably includes a major part 37 secured in the end portion of the associated tubular portion 22, and a removable section 38 which is secured to the major part 37 by means of the screw 31 attaching end piece 26b to the adjacent end of spacer bolt 30. The major part 37 and removable section 38 of end piece 26b define an annular space or groove therebetween which receives the electric cord 36 so that, when screw 31 is tightened, the electric cord is clamped in such annular space. Further, a hollow connecting device 39 is clamped between section 38 and main part 37 and the electric cord leaving end piece 26b extends through that connecting device 39 and is protected by the latter.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, it will be seen that the handle structure 10 further preferably has a latch bolt 41] slidable in the inner tubular portion 22 of rod-like element 15a and urged by a spring 41 to project axially from the end of such tubular portion 22 beyond the mounting socket 16a. As shown on FIG. 2, the housing 12 has a keeper 42 provided thereon below the mounting socket 16a of handle structure 10 to receive the latch bolt 40 and thereby retain the tubular portions 22 of the handle structure substantially in a vertical plane, as shown on FIG. 2. In order to provide for release of latch bolt 40 from keeper 42, a cable 43 or other flexible member extends upwardly from latch bolt 40 through tubular portion 22 of element 15a and into end piece 26a. The upper end of cable 43 is connected, as at 44, to an actuating member 45 which is rockably mounted on end piece 26a and extends from the readily accessible end surface of the latter. As shown particularly on FIG. 7, the actuating member 45 is preferably of substantially inverted T-shaped configuration, that is, consists of an upstanding stem with a cap extending across the bottom thereof and having the cable 43 connected to the center of the bottom cap. Thus, when actuating member 45 is rocked from the position shown in full lines on FIG. 7 to the position shown in broken lines, the cable 43 is pulled upwardly to similarly displace latch bolt 40 against the action of spring 41. Such displacement of the latch bolt releases the latter from the keeper 42 and thereby permits swinging of tubular portions 22 of the handle structure in either direction away from the vertical position of FIG. 2.

When tubular portions 23 of handle structure 10 are in their extended or operative position, as shown on FIG. 1, the operator or user of the waxer or floor treating machine can grasp the operating handle 18 and thereby manipulate or move the machine over the floor and, during such manipulation of the machine, the handle structure can be disposed at either side of the vertical plane passing through the axis of trunnions 17.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be understood the floor waxer 11 comprises portable equipment having a body 12 movable over a surface. The handle structure 10 serves as a combined manipulating and carrying handle having a first hand grip 18 for manipulating the body 12 when the equipment 11 is being operated and a second hand grip 28 for holding the body 12 when the equipment 11 is being carried. The handle 10 comprises two elongated elements 15a and 15b disposed alongside one another, and first means at 16a and 16b for pivotally mounting one end of the elongated elements 15a and 1511 on the body 12 for angular movement about a first axis in a range between an upright position and a position at an acute angle to the vertical. The part 18 fixed to the opposite end of the elongated elements 15a and 15b functions as the first hand grip.

Each of the elongated elements and 15!) includes inner members 22 and outer members 23 extending from the body 12 and part 18, respectively. The ends of the outer members 23 remote from the part 18 are pivotally mounted by second means at 24 to the ends of the inner members 22 remote from the body 12 for angularly moving the outer members 23 with respect to the inner members 22 about a second axis parallel to the first axis at 16a and 16b. As best shown in FIG. 2, the outer members 23 are angularly movable with respect to the inner members 22 about the second axis at 24 to double up the first and second members 22 and 23 like a jackknife when the inner members 22 are in an upright position on the body 12.

Interlocking structure comprising cooperating first and second clutch elements 35 and 34 is operatively associated,

with the inner and outer members 22 and 23, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. Resilient means 33 acts on the first and second clutch elements. 35 and 34 to yieldingly hold the inner and outer members 22 and 23 interlocked when they are fully extended, as seen in FIG. 1. The first and second clutch elements 35 and 34 and the resilient means 33 are disposed at the second pivotal means at 24 and are coextensive with the second axis. The outer members 23 are angularly movable with respect to the inner members 22 about the second axis to double up the inner and outer members 22 and 23 responsive to suflicient force effective to overcome the action of the resilient means 33 to yieldingly hold the first and second clutch elements 35 and 34 interlocked and render the interlocking structure ineffective to yieldingly hold the inner and outer members 22 and 23 fully extended. The handle structure includes the part 28 at the second pivotal means at 24 which is coextensive with the second axis and functions as the second hand grip for holding the body 12 when the equipment 11 is being carried and the inner and outer members 22 and 23 are doubled up like a jackknife and the inner members 22 are in an upright position on the body 12.

The inner and outer members 22 and 23 are formed of hollow tubing. As seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, an electric cord 36 extends through one of the inner members 22 from the body 12 to the second pivotal means at 24. The parts 37 and 38 constitute means for anchoring a hollow member 39 to the inner member 22 through which the cord 36 extends, the cord emerging from the member 22 through the hollow member 39. Also, the parts 37 and 38 form components of structure defining an annular space 39a forming a semi-circular passageway for the cord 36 which functions as a strain relief to prevent accidental axial displacement of the cord in the inner member 22 through which it extends.

When the floor waxer or other floor treating machine is not in use, the outer tubular portions 23 of the handle structure can be folded or collapsed about the lateral axis of the joint assembly 24- and the inner portions 22 of the handle structure can be locked in their vertical positions, as shown on FIG. 2. With the handle structure 10 positioned as shown on FIG. 2, the handle constituted by the tubular member 28 of the joint assembly 24 provides a convenient means by which the waxer or machine can be bodily carried. Further, the folded handle structure requires a reduced vertical space for the storage of the waxer or machine. Finally, with the tubular portions 23 in the folded or collapsed position relative to tubular portions 22, the latter can be swung down to a substantially horizontal position, as in FIG. 3, so that the handle structure 10 then occupies the smallest possible space and permits the transport of the floor waxer in areas of relatively low height, for example, in an automobile trunk.

Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or sipirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A handle structure for an electrically operated floor treating machine of the type having a housing movable over a floor surface, said handle structure comprising two rod-like elements pivotally connected, at one end, to opposite sides of the housing, an operating handle secured to the other ends of said rod-like elements for use in manipulating the machine during its operation, each of said rod-like elements having first and second elongated portions of approximately equal length extending from said housing and from said operating handle, respectively, and joint means pivotally connecting the ends of said first and second portions of each element which are remote from said housing and operating handle, respectively, so that said second portions of the two rod-like elements can swing as a unit about a lateral axis relative to said first portions between an extended operative position and a folded position, said joint means including a tubular member coaxial with said lateral axis and extending between the two rod-like elements at the pivotally connected ends of said elongated portions of the latter to form a carrying handle for the machine when said second portions are in said folded position, said pivotally connected ends of said portions of the rod-like elements having end pieces thereon with the end pieces of said second portions being laterally inside the end pieces of said first portions, said end pieces of the second portions being axially movable on the ends of said tubular member constituting a carrying handle, said joint means including a spacer bolt extending axially through said tubular member and said end pieces of the second portions and means securing said end pieces of the first portions to the ends of said spacer bolt, said end pieces of the first and second portions having confronting surfaces formed with similarly shaped recesses and pro jections engageable with each other to retain said second portions in said extended operative position relative to said first portions, and said recesses and projections being disengageable from each other to permit swinging of said second portions to said folded position by axial movement of said end pieces of the second portions inward toward each other.

2. A handle structure as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises spring means in said tubular member acting against said end pieces of the second portions and yieldably urging the same axially apart toward said end pieces of the first portions, and said recesses and projections having end surfaces inclined relative to the lateral axis about which said second portions are swingable so that said inclined end surfaces of the recesses and projections drive the end pieces of said second portions inward toward each other in response .to forceful displacement of said second portions from said extended position.

3. A handle structure as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises an electric cord extending to said housing through one of said first portions, said means securing said end pieces of the first portions to said spacer bolt including screws threaded into the latter, and said end piece of said one first portion including two parts defining an annular space therebetween which receives said cord and has the screw associated therewith extending through said two parts to hold the latter together and clamp said cord in said annular space.

4. Portable equipment comprising a body movable over a surface, a combined manipulating and carrying handle having a first hand grip for manipulating said body when the equipment is being operated and a second hand grip for holding said body when the equipment is being carried, said handle comprising two elongated elements disposed alongside one another, first means pivotally mounting one end of said elongated elements on said body for angular movement about a first axis in a range between an upright position and a position at an acute angle to the vertical, a part fixed to the opposite end of said elongated elements which functions as said first hand grip, each of said elongated elements including inner and outer elongated members respectively extending from said body and said part, second means for pivotally mounting the ends of said outer members remote from said part to the ends of said inner members remote from said body for angularly moving said outer members with respect to said inner members about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said outer members being angularly movable with respect to said inner members about said second axis to double up said first and second members like a jackknife when said inner members are in .an upright position on said body, interlocking structure comprising cooperating first and second clutch elements operatively associated with said inner and outer members, respectively, resilient means acting on said first and second clutch elements for yieldingly holding said inner and outer members interlocked when said inner and outer members are fully extended, said first and second clutch elements and said resilient means being disposed at said second pivotal means and coextensive with said second axis, said outer members being angularly movable with respect to said inner members about said second axis to double up said inner and outer members responsive to sufiicient force efiective to overcome the action of said resilient means to yieldingly hold said first and second clutch elements interlocked and render said interlocking structure inefiective to yieldingly hold said inner and outer members fully extended, and said handle including a part at said second pivotal means which is coextensive with said second axis and functions as said second hand grip for holding said body when the equipment is being carried and said inner and outer members are doubled up like a jackknife and said inner members are in the upright position on said body.

5. Portable equipment as set forth in claim 4 in which at least said inner members are formed of hollow tubing, an electric cord extending through one of said inner members from said body to said second pivotal means, a hollow element, means for anchoring said hollow element to said one inner member at said second pivotal means, the electric cord emerging from said one inner member through said hollow element, and structure including said anchoring means defining a semi-circular passageway for the electric cord which functions as a strain relief to prevent accidental axial displacement of the electric cord in said one inner member.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which at least 8 one of said inner members is formed of hollow tubing, a holding member movable within said one member, resilient means in said one member which acts on said holding member to render the latter operable to engage said body when said inner members are in an upright position and hold said inner members in such upright position, means to render said holding member ineffective to hold said inner members in the upright position, said last-mentioned means comprising an actuating member, means for mounting said actuating member for pivotal movement on said one inner member at said second pivotal means, and an elongated element which extends through said one inner member and operatively connects said actuating member and said holding member, said actuating memher being movable toward and from a position to render said resilient means ineffective to act on said holding member and render the latter inoperable to engage said body and hold said inner members in an upright position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 599,208 2/98 White 280-4737 X 2,727,753 12/55 Johnson 16--11O X 2,758,847 8/56 Shone 28047.37 X 2,821,258 l/58 Benson et a1 15-410 X 2,822,566 2/58 Eberhart 15-410 2,892,203 6/59 Brennan 15-49 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,495 1/ 10 Great Britain. 842,387 7/60 Great Britain.

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Examiner. 

1. A HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FLOOR TREATING MACHING OF THE TYPE HAVING A HOUSING MOVABLE OVER A FLOOR SURFACE, SAID HANDLE STRUCTURE COMPRISING TWO ROD-LIKE ELEMENTS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED, AT ONE END, TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HOUSING, AN OPERATING HANDLE SECURED TO THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID ROD-LIKE ELEMENTS FOR USE IN MANIPULATING THE MACHING DURING ITS OPERATION, EACH OF SAID ROD-LIKE ELEMENTS HAVING FIRST AND SECONF ELONGATED PORTIONS OF APPROXIMATELY EQUAL LENGTH EXTENDING FROM SAID HOUSING AND FROM SAID OPERATING HANDLE, RESPECTIVELY, AND JOINT MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS OF EACH ELEMENT WHICH ARE REMOTE FROM SAID HOUSING AND OPERATING HANDLE, RESPECTIVELY, SO THAT SAID SECOND PORTIONS OT THE TWO ROD-LIKE ELEMENTS CAN SWING AS A UNIT ABOUT A LATERAL AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST PORTIONS BETWEEN AN EXTENDED OPERATIVE POSITION AND A FOLDED POSITION, SAID JOINT MEANS INCLUDING A TUBULAR MEMBER COAXIAL WITH SAID LATERAL AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE TWO ROD-LIKE ELEMENTS AT THE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED PORTIONS OF THE LATTER TO FORM A CARRY HANDLE FOR THE MACHINE WHEN SAID SECOND PORTIONS ARE IN SAID FOLDED POSITION, SAID PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ENDS OF SAID PORTIONS OF THE ROD-LIKE ELEMENTS HAVING END PIECES THEREON WITH THE END PIECES OF SAID SECOND PORTIONS BEING LATERALLY INSIDE THE END PIECES OF SAID FIRST PORTIONS, SAID END PIECES OF THE SECOND PORTIONS BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE ON THE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER CONSTITUTING A CARRYING HANDLE, SAID JOINT MEANS INCLUDING A SPACER BOLT EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SAID END PIECES OF THE SECOND PORTIONS AND MEANS SECURING SAID END PIECES OF THE FIRST PORTIONS TO THE ENDS OF SAID SPACER BOLT, SAID END PIECES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS HAVING CONFRONTING SURFACES FORMED WITH SIMLARLY SHAPED RECESSES AND PROJECTIONS ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER TO RETAIN SAID SECOND PORTIONS IN SAID EXTENDED OPERATIVE POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST PORTIONS, AND SAID RECESSES AND PROJECTIONS BEING DISENGAGERABLE FROM EACH OTHER TO PERMIT SWINGING OF SAID SECOND PORTIONS TO SAID FOLDED POSITION BY AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID END PIECES OF THE SECOND PORTIONS INWARD TOWARD EACH OTHER. 